Chno Dearg

Chno Dearg is a mountain in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands. It overlooks Glen Spean to the north and Loch Treig to the west. The name comes from the Gaelic for ‘red hill’, though early maps spell it differently. It reaches 1,046 metres and is classed as a Munro. The mountain has a rounded shape with few sharp features. Its summit offers wide views, especially of the Creag Meagaidh group to the northeast. The mountain’s northern slopes drop gently to Glen Spean and Loch Laggan. These lower slopes carry a large forestry plantation and can be boggy with many small streams. On the west side lies Coire an Lochain, a shallow hollow holding a small lochan. The main ridge runs southwest from the summit to a col at 923 metres. From there one spur links to Stob Coire Sgriodain, another Munro, while the other goes south to Meall Garbh. Chno Dearg is usually climbed from the hamlet of Fersit. The route often includes Stob Coire Sgriodain to make a natural round of Coire an Lochain. Walkers can also start from Corrour railway station, climb Beinn na Lap, then continue north over Chno Dearg and Stob Coire Sgriodain to finish at Tulloch station. The mountain’s ski-mountaineering appeal lies in its five-kilometre northern descent with 750 metres of drop.